16th October 2025
3 min read
Recapping the hands-on session that put client voices at the heart of product design.
Zak Chester
Chief Product Officer
Mark Heyster
Product Designer
Chris Cancar
Product Owner
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Last week, we hosted our Iken Labs workshop, a session built around one clear aim: bringing clients into the process in a new, more collaborative format, beyond interviews, into shared decision-making.
This wasn’t a product showcase or a roadmap update. Instead, we invited clients to help shape the future of a feature still in development: Quick Notes.
From walking through early prototypes to actively prioritising what comes next, attendees got hands-on with the design process. Offering insights, raising questions, and even suggesting features we hadn’t considered yet. It was creative, collaborative, and exactly what Iken Labs is all about.
Whether you joined us live or are catching up now, here’s a full breakdown of what we covered and what we learned.
“Our clients clearly value configuration, not just broad functionality, but the ability to fine-tune how features work in their context. This session reinforced that depth and configurability matter more than simply adding more features.”
Zak Chester
Chief Product Officer
What We Did in the Workshop
Prototype Walkthrough
We began with a demo of the MVP – showing how users can quickly create a note, where those notes live in the system, and how they can be turned into a document later.
Importantly, this version didn’t include every potential feature. It was intentionally light giving us a strong foundation while leaving space to explore what else should be added post-MVP.
Feature Prioritisation via Card Sorting
Next, we moved into a hands-on workshop using FigJam, a collaborative design tool. Each attendee received a virtual set of sticky notes, each describing a possible enhancement for Quick Notes (e.g., tagging, categorisation, note sharing, convert to diary entry, and more).
Participants were invited to sort the features from “most valuable” to “least valuable” and to suggest new ones using blank notes. We wrapped up with a discussion to review the board together, reflect on the choices made, and capture anything still left unsaid.
Key Takeaways (What We Learned)
Clients want to shape development and see the results.
Participants told us they appreciated seeing early versions of features and having the opportunity to directly shape what comes next. This two-way transparency helps build trust and ensures we’re building what matters most.
Configurability and control are essential.
It became clear that users value the ability to fine-tune features. Rather than general settings or assumptions, they want to control how tools behave from how time recording works to how notes are tagged or used.
Depth over breadth.
Users consistently showed preference for deeper, more capable features that fit seamlessly into workflows rather than having lots of surface-level tools that offer limited functionality.
Smarter organisation makes life easier.
Features like searching, filtering, and the ability to be reminded about an action from a note ranked high, showing how critical it is for users to find and manage their notes over time.
A relaxed format brings better ideas.
The informal, open nature of the session (plus tools like FigJam) created a welcoming environment where people felt comfortable sharing, exploring, and even challenging ideas.
Here’s What’s Next
The insights gathered during the workshop are already shaping our next design sprint. Our Product Team is developing a new set of post-MVP concept designs for Quick Notes, based directly on the features and ideas prioritised.
Why Iken Labs Matters
Iken Labs is more than a workshop it’s part of how we build better software. By opening up our design and development process, we’re aiming to:
Build features that solve real user needs
Ensure development is shaped by the people who use the system every day
Create space for co-creation, feedback, and innovation
Thank you to everyone who joined us this time. Whether you’re hands-on in every session or just following along via these updates your input matters.
Learn More
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